The Effects of Perioperative Painting Art Therapy (LOM® Solution Centered Art Therapy) in Surgical Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Consecutive adult patients of both genders ≥ 18 years subjected to major (oncological) surgery due to pathologies of the pancreatic and lower gastrointestinal tract at our department. * The initial diagnosis does not date back longer than 6 months prior the planned surgery. Neoadjuvant radio-/chemotherapy is not an exclusion criteria. * Able to speak and understand German or English * Signed written informed consent by the participant after extensive oral and written information about the research project and its aims. * Thresholds of primary outcome: anxiety levels measured with STAI-form Y-1 (state) and Y-2 (trait). Thresholds: scores between 20 (minimum) and 80 (maximum) in each subscore. Exclusion Criteria: * Woman who are pregnant or breast feeding. * Known or suspected non-compliance regarding the execution of painting art therapy and/or the proper completion of the needed forms. * Drug or alcohol abuse. * Regular intake of antidepressant medication with the exception of medication prescribed for chronic insomnia. * Acute suicidality. * Life expectancy less than 9 months after planned surgery. * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, ect. of the participant * Participation in another study during the present study and within 6 weeks following the surgery. * Previous enrollment into the current study. * Enrollment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and…